I have a '97 4x4 F150 that I want to change the front and rear diff fluids, the t-case fluid, and possbily the tranny fluid & filter.

Are the differential fluids also called axle fluids (diff fluids not mentioned in the manual)?

If so, are these fluids correct (from my owner's manual):
t-case & tranny - Mercon ATF (not Mercon V)
front diff - SAE 75W90
rear diff - High Perf Rear Axle Lub + friction modifier

What exactly is the fluid for the rear diff?

Any suggestions on brand of fluid?

 

Thoughts on this coolant change procedure?

http://members.shaw.ca/pferlow/f150_coolant_change.htm

 

For the tranny..

Can I just drop the pan, dump fluid, and the drain the torque converter (some plug behind a rubber cover?)? Is that sufficeint? Or does a full flush have much more benefit?

 

The rear diff fluid is 75w140, you only need friction modifier if you have LS. For the tranny look at the dipstick,it tells you what it needs. Fluid brand won't matter since it is synthetic.

You can also pull your supply line at the tranny cooler and turn the truck on, it will then pump out the rest of the fluid, most how to's on tranny flushes will have a walk through on how to do it. Pretty sure this site is one of them.

 

Where do you take coolant to get rid of it?

Mike

 

Call around at your local auto parts stores. Most of them have a free waste tank you can dump it in.


I am also doing the same to my truck. I figure after 10 years and 100K miles, the fluids need to be changed. I just bought some Lucas 80W-90 for the diffs (says it already has the friction modifier in it), and I'll need to get some Mercon this weekend for the T-case

 

axlle lube is also called Geaar Lube. the old standard is 80w90. in the newer Ford turcks you can use the "standard" gear lube in the front, but you need a synthetick 75W140 in the back end. to do the back you pull about a dozen bolts and remove the rear cover. clean everything out, reinstall the cover with RTV, then fill about 3 quarts thru the 1/2 inch pipe plug on the side.--- the front alxe dont remove the cover. it has a 1 inch drain plug and a 1/2 inch fill plug. both these are "gear lube", but the front is not as critical on spec.--- the transmission has MERCON. The newer trucks are MERCON V, but i beleive yours is MERCON. You remove the transmission pan and remove the filter element inside. You will drain about 5 quarts. Put the pan back on with a new filter. Now under the flywheel there is a 3 inch plastic round cover, pull it off, pry the flywheel around with a long scrw drvier on the flywheel teeth untill you see the 1/8 inch type pipe plug on the bottom of the converter. pull it out and you will drain another 8 quarts. total 13 quarts. refill thru the filler tube by firewall.---- the 4 x 4 transfer case uses the same type MERCON, maybe 2 quarts.---- also do the fuel filter, then check the brake linings.

 

You can use Mercon V in place of Mercon...but you CANNOT use Mercon in place of Mercon V.

 

Steve -- thanks for the confirmations; looks dead-on to what I've been reading.

My '97 is U tranny.. so Mercon in tranny and t-case
I bought some Valvoline 75w90 for the front end.
The rear had a new axle seal done 50K back, so I presume I got new fluids then, else I'd use 70w140 w/ modifier.

It looks like a simple yet effective procedure for the tranny is to drain the pan and torque converter.. that gets 13 of 15 quarts.

For the coolant.. seems like draining radiator and block gets 90% of the fluid.

I imagine a flush of either the tranny or coolant would be best.

 

Flushing the tranny on a truck with high mileage, and no previous transmission fluid replacements has been argued to death, and is in a stalemate between members.

Some people have had great success flushing their tranny, While others have had nothing but problems afterwards. What happens is, when the tranny is flushed, is can dislodge 'sludge' build-up and move it to another area of the transmission valvebody and cause it to shift funny, not shift at all, or worse...

My tranny has been flushed at 30K, and 60K miles by the previous owner. I bought the truck with 80K on it and planned to do the flush at around 90K, but never got around to it. It has 103K on it now, and I doubt it will ever be done again. But it does shift and perform like new...

If your truck has never been flushed before...I would be a bit leery